Nathan was sleeping in his bed and Claudia ran in with a tray loaded with breakfast.

"Goood morniiing!" She shouted as she ran over the bed. "Rise and shine!" She exclaimed laughing. Nathan woke up and Claudia placed the tray in front of him. "I slaved, all morning, over the toaster, making my famous raisin waffles so eat up." Claudia giggled sweetly.

"Somebody wants to go to that... crummy Formal." Nathan sighed and Claudia gasped.

"Crummy?!" She exclaimed as she smacked him on the arm. "How could you say that? We get to hang out with our friends and get all dressed up and slow dance. How can you not be excited?" Claudia asked giggling, this was going to be Claudia's first ever formal because every other year she has spent it with Haley and Lucas playing video games or making fun of them.

"Because my parents are chaperones." Nathan said and Claudia smiled.

"My parents are chaperones too." Claudia replied, realising how that could end up in a disaster, like last time. "So what? Safety in numbers; I got your back." Claudia laughed as she rested her hands on his body.

"Do we really have to go to this stupid dance?" Nathan sighed.

"Alright, well, maybe not. I mean, once I get you in that tux, maybe I'll decide we should stay in..." Claudia smirked before she whispered something in his ear. 

"Just ah... don't leave me alone with them." Nathan laughed.

"OK. I promise." Claudia replied smiling. Nathan held up the fork, with a bit of food on it, out for Claudia, who ate it. 

"So." She whispered before she kissed him. "Good." She smiled.

"My turn." Nathan replied and Claudia laughed.

___

Karen and Claudia were behind the counter, Karen was balancing a phone between her ear and shoulder as she spoke into it.

"Alright, I'll see you when you get back." Karen smiled as she hung up the phone.

"Andy down-under?" Claudia asked turning her head to face Karen.

"Oh, New York for a seminar." Karen replied as the bell above the door jingled, somebody just entered. "Hey, there she is!" Karen exclaimed as Peyton stood at the door way and waved. "Give my trusty club promoter a sack on the house. She's earned it!" Karen smiled as Peyton approached them.

"Alright!" Claudia laughed as she grabbed the coffee pot. "Sup girly?!" Claudia smirked.

"Actually, this trusty club promoter needs a favour." Peyton said and Claudia looked wary at Peyton.

"Alright." Claudia said weakly as she poured coffee for Peyton.

"How would you feel about playing TRIC next weekend?" Peyton asked and Chris entered the cafe. "And I don't mean just... one or two songs. I mean... like a whole set." Peyton explained.

"Oh, wow, I'm flattered but I can't." Claudia replied weakly.

"Why not?" Peyton asked.

"Cos my set is not ready." Claudia stated shaking her head as Chris appeared next to them.

"I got plenty of songs." Chris butted in.

"Really!" Peyton exclaimed sarcastically. "See, that's weird cos I wouldn't know that. I've never even heard him play one." Peyton stated.

"Ah, but you know, let's just skip to the bit  where you tell me you want me to play." Chris replied.

"How do I know you're not gonna screw me again?" Peyton asked as Claudia just watched the pair. 

"Been there, done that." Chris replied self-righteously.

"Are you gonna have a list of crazy demands?" Peyton asked annoyed.

"Yeah, but just one; Claudia," Chris began as he inclined his head to her, "plays with me." Chris finished and Claudia looked stunned.

"Uh... do you really think I'm ready for that?" Claudia asked shocked.

"Uh, no. But you will be if we rehearse tonight." Chris explained.

"Oh, I can't tonight. Tonight's the Formal." Claudia smiled weakly as she poured someone else coffee.

"Hmm, just as well; I don't really wanna play with someone who's not... totally committed. Not with record labels in the audience." Chris taunted as Claudia rolled her eyes, she looked at Peyton for help. "I have interest. But you just went off that prom." Chris finished and Claudia was not happy. 

"Alright, fine, I'll be there." Claudia stated and Chris smirked, he was self satisfied, and left. Peyton was smiling as well. 

___

Nathan was sitting on the couple's lap top. Nathan clicked on 'CLAUDIAS_SONG' and listened to it smiling.

"You caught my eye. And out of nowhere you appeared. By surprise and it's not like me but certainly, I heard myself calling for you." Claudia sung on the laptop. Claudia appeared and turned the song off. "Nathan!" Claudia shouted, short of scowling.

"Claudia, come on, it sounded amazing!" Nathan gushed proudly.

"That is a work in progress and you have a habit of sending out things before they're finished!" Claudia joked as she nudged him.

"Well, you see how well that turned out." Nathan replied and Claudia smiled. "And when... when did you find the time to record this?" Nathan asked and Claudia looked guilty.

"Oh just... when you were in Charlotte; over the weekend." Claudia said as she starts to walk away, but then she remembered something and stopped."Oh... shoot. Um... OK, so something's come up." Claudia said sadly before she paused. "Peyton wants me to play the next TRIC night... with... with Chris." Claudia finished standing there nervous and awkward.

"Claudia... come on, you don't need that guy." Nathan replied unhappily.

"He's got connections and they're gonna see me play and... it's just really important that I rehearse with him." Claudia said before she took a deep breath. "Starting tonight." Claudia muttered and Nathan looked more pissed off. 

"Claude!" Nathan shouted.

"Well, come on, I'm just gonna be a little bit late. We won't miss anything. I promise. OK? Promise." Claudia smiled quickly before she walked into the bedroom. Nathan looked down at the computer screen it said, 'DATA SUCCESSFULLY RECORDED TO DISK'. She pressed exit and took the disc out smiling. 

___

"How is my set list?" Claudia asked when she had finished singing them all.

"They are fine." Chris replied and Claudia smiled to herself. "Record labels sell great, not fine." Chris then extended, this annoyed Claudia. Her phone began to ring, she picked up her phone- it was Nathan.

"Oh hey sweetie, I'm sorry. This is taking a lot longer than I expected." Claudia apologised as Nathan stood outside the apartment with a corsage in one hand and his phone in the other. 

"Well how much longer?" Nathan asked and Claudia looked at Chris, upset. 

"Why don't you go ahead and I will meet you there not a second later than eight-thirty." Claudia stated and Nathan looked upset. 

"Claudia?!" He shouted.

"I'm sorry!What's the big deal, I mean, so we miss a few minutes, you didn't wanna go anyway, right?" Claudia asked, little did she know that Nathan had a great night planned out for her. He really wanted to take her to formal. 

"OK. Alright, I'll see you there." Nathan replied unhappily.

"OK, love you." Claudia smiled sadly as she hung up the phone.  

___

"That was good!" Claudia exclaimed as she took the earphones off. She was proud of herself. Chris pressed a button on the controls.

"That sounded better." Chris muttered as his voice echoed around the room.

"Better than good?" Claudia asked smiling.

"Well, better than crap." Chris answered.

"Oh, that's nice, that's what I think I'll name my first album; 'Better than Crap'." Claudia joked and they both smiled. (They smile.) 

"Nah, it sounded good." Chris replied and Claudia nodded her head. She looked up at the clock and her smile dropped. 

"Is that clock right?" Claudia asked worried.

"Uh, no, I unplugged it." Chris replied as he looked at the clock. Claudia's heart dropped, she knew she was in deep trouble.

"You what?!" Claudia shouted pissed.

"You were," Chris started as he made an inch of space between his index finger and thumb, "that close to nailing it." Chris smirked.

"What time is it?!" Claudia asked appalled. 

"Nine and change." Chris answered.

"Oh my god! I can not believe you did that. Nathan is gonna kill me!" Claudia shouted worried.

"No, just play him the track. He'll understand." Chris smiled, that made it worse.

"No, trust me, he won't." Claudia replied worried as she slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out. 

___

(Claudia at the formal)

Claudia walked into the formal, desperately searching for Nathan. She found her parents though -DRUNK!

"Wow, honey, you look beautiful." Josie exclaimed as she hugged her daughter.

"Mum, are you drunk!" Claudia shouted and Tom shushed her losing his balance a little.

"We just took some medicne to help us get through the night." Tom laughed and Claudia sat them down.

"Sit down and I will be back soon." Claudia stated before she walked away from her giggling and hiccuping parents.

"As you know, over the last week, the student body was asked to cast a vote for one king and one queen." Karen said into the microphone, at the formal.

"Nathan! I'm so sorry I'm late. I just.." Claudia apologised to Nathan endlessly.

"Come on, come on we gotta hurry, we gotta hurry." Nathan stated as he took the corsage and attempted to pin it on her. 

"Clock at the studio stopped and..." Claudia explained as the pin poked her. She groaned in pain. "Have you been drinking?" Claudia asked in shock.

"Just a little bit." Nathan replied and Claudia shook her head.

"This years, Tree Hill High, king and queen are... Nathan and Claudia Scott! Karen exclaimed into the microphone smiling proudly at the two. Claudia looked at the stage dumbfounded and Nathan smiled. Josie and Tom were clapping and cheering drunk. Claudia and Nathan kissed happily. Claudia's song began to play and her smile vanished. 

https://youtu.be/obHWeI9U2o0

 (This is 'Don't Know How'. Just Imagine Chris in it.)

"Nathan!" Claudia shouted annoyed.

"Surprise!" Nathan exclaimed smiling, Jack looked over at Claudia worryingly. He knew that Chris sang on that track as well. Considering that Jack has been working with Chris as well.

"I told you, this song isn't ready yet!" Claudia replied as they made their way to the stage.

"I know, but you're too critical. Everyone's gonna love it." Nathan smirked as they got onto the stage. "I told the DJ to play it if you won." Nathan whispered and Claudia looked up, she waited for that she knew was coming. "This is your night Claude. I want it to be perfect." He whispered as he squeezed her hand. Karen placed the tiara on top of Claudia's head as Chris' part came on and he started to sing. Nathan froze.

"Wait, is that... is that Chris?" Nathan asked as Claudia moved some hair out of her face as she smiled guilty at the crowd. "You told me that I was in Charlotte when you recorded this. You were with Chris then and you didn't tell me?" Nathan continued, hurt by her lies. Claudia was utterly speechless.

"Nathan, I was going to tell you, I swear." Claudia whispered but Nathan looked forward disbelievingly. Claudia looked at Lucas who looked at her back sympathetically.

"Yeah? You're a little late. For the second time tonight." Nathan sighed and the tension between the two grows. All they could hear was Chris sing.

___

Claudia stood at the dock, looking out at the ocean. All she could hear was the joyous laughters of drunk teens. Nathan walked up to her.

"You know, I'm having a hard time getting my head around how you could be pissed at me!" Nathan shouted annoyed. 

"Because you deliberately did something I asked you not to!" Claudia replied with a raised voice as she turned to face him. The only problem with Claudia's raised voice is that it basically sounds the same.

"Whatever! I spent the whole night waiting for you; planning everything, dodging my parents... all while you were with Chris!" Nathan argued and Claudia leaned on the dock railings annoyed.

"Can we leave him out of this please?" Claudia asked angry.

"Why? Are you into him?" Nathan asked and Claudia has never felt to so hurt in her life. 

"You know what, it really hurts me that you even have to ask me that." Claudia replied tearfully. 

"Not as much as it hurts me." Nathan muttered before she walked back to the house. Claudia watched his departure before she turned back to look at the sea. 

___

Nathan stood against the wooden rails, looking into his drink. The beach house was now empty. Claudia came to a stop next to him and her dress cascaded down her legs and onto the wooded floor. She was lost for words. Nathan saw her but looked away.

"Listen, I want you to know something; I don't have feelings for Chris, OK?" Claudia stated and Nathan nodded slightly. The only reason I didn't tell you about that song is because... I know you don't like him. I don't get you Nathan, you know, you encourage me to do this music thing and than... now that Chris is involved you just-" Claudia tried to explain but Nathan interuptted.

"You don't need that guy, Claudia!" Nathan shouted and Claudia shook her head.

"He helps me Nathan! Think of it this way. You need all your players to help you win the basketball game." Claudia explained and Nathan nodded his head a teeny bit. "I don't want you to feel threatened." Claudia whispered and Nathan turned to face her angrily.

"You think I'm threatened?" He asked shocked.

"I know it must be hard for you; seeing me have something like this when you didn't get into basketball camp but," Claudia began to answer as Nathan turned away, it's just not fair for you to take it out on me!" Claudia exclaimed.

"I'll tell you what Claudia;  Go home... and look in my top drawer. You'll see a letter, from High Flyers. Read that... then talk to me about fair!" Nathan shouted annoyed  before he walked past her. Claudia sighed. 

___

Claudia was back in the apartment, she tore open the letter from High Flyers, she read it viciously. She cried as she read the letter further. It was a letter from the High Flyer director, Milt West, saying how sorry that are that Nathan turned to down the offer. Claudia folded the letter back up and picked up the phone- calling Nathan.

Nathan sat on the wooden rails out on the beach as his phone ran. Paper cups littered the railings. He ignored it for a while as she looked out at the sea. He took out his phone to see it was Claudia and declined it before he walked back to the beach house.